Feed trough

Abstract

A hay feed trough whose construction and materials render the trough more resistant to weather, as well as provides improved retention of fodder to reduce waste. The feed trough includes a support frame having longitudinal members oriented in a longitudinal direction of the trough and transverse members oriented in a transverse direction of the trough, a bin supported by and within the support frame and adapted for containing hay or other fodder material, and a one-piece platform that is removably supported beneath the bin for detachably supporting the platform from at least one of the support frame and bin. The platform is molded from a weather-resistant polymeric material, and is formed to have a sectioned configuration that provides features for supporting the platform, promoting hay retention on the platform, and separating the platform into multiple smaller platforms.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A fodder feed trough comprising: 
       a support frame having longitudinal members oriented in a longitudinal direction of the trough and transverse members oriented in a transverse direction of the trough;  
       a bin supported by and within the support frame;  
       a one-piece platform removably suspended beneath the bin, the platform having a sectioned configuration that defines a plurality of recesses delineated by transverse and longitudinal raised portions, the transverse and longitudinal raised portions defining features at which the platform can be separated into multiple smaller platforms for installation on a smaller feed trough; and  
       means for detachably supporting the platform from at least one of the support frame and bin.  
     
     
       2. A fodder feed trough according to  claim 1 , wherein the bin is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the trough. 
     
     
       3. A fodder feed trough according to  claim 2 , wherein the bin has a V-shaped cross-section in the transverse direction of the trough. 
     
     
       4. A fodder feed trough according to  claim 3 , wherein the bin defines a gap at a lower end of the V-shaped cross-section thereof. 
     
     
       5. A fodder feed trough according to  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal raised portions of the platform comprise two outer longitudinal raised portions and a center longitudinal raised portion, the outer longitudinal raised portions defining outer longitudinal rim portions of the platform, the center longitudinal raised portion defining a longitudinal recess in a lower surface of the platform. 
     
     
       6. A fodder feed trough according to  claim 5 , wherein the support means comprises a support rod nested in the longitudinal recess in the lower surface of the platform, and means for suspending the support rod from at least one of the support frame and bin. 
     
     
       7. A fodder feed trough according to  claim 6 , wherein the suspending means comprises hooks that fasten the support rod to the bin. 
     
     
       8. A fodder feed trough according to  claim 6 , wherein the support means further comprises the outer longitudinal rim portions of the platform and the longitudinal members of the support frame, the outer longitudinal rim portions being supported on the longitudinal members. 
     
     
       9. A fodder feed trough according to  claim 5 , wherein the support means comprises the outer longitudinal rim portions of the platform and the longitudinal members of the support frame, the outer longitudinal rim portions being supported on the longitudinal members. 
     
     
       10. A fodder feed trough according to  claim 1 , wherein the platform is formed of a molded polymeric material. 
     
     
       11. A method for providing a fodder feed trough, the method comprising the steps of: 
       providing a support frame having longitudinal members oriented in a longitudinal direction of the trough and transverse members oriented in a transverse direction of the trough;  
       supporting a bin by and within the support frame; and  
       removably suspending a one-piece platform beneath the bin by detachably supporting the platform from at least one of the support frame and bin, the platform having a sectioned configuration that defines a plurality of recesses delineated by transverse and longitudinal raised portions, the transverse and longitudinal raised portions defining features at which the platform can be separated into multiple smaller platforms for installation on a smaller feed trough.  
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the bin is supported so as to be oriented in the longitudinal direction of the trough. 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of forming the bin to have a V-shaped cross-section in the transverse direction of the trough. 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of forming the bin to have a gap at a lower end of the V-shaped cross-section thereof. 
     
     
       15. A method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of forming the platform so that the longitudinal raised portions thereof comprise two outer longitudinal raised portions and a center longitudinal raised portion, the outer longitudinal raised portions define outer longitudinal rim portions of the platform, and the center longitudinal raised portion defines a longitudinal recess in a lower surface of the platform. 
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the platform is detachably supported with a support rod nested in the longitudinal recess in the lower surface of the platform, and the support rod is suspended from at least one of the support frame and bin. 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the support rod is suspended with hooks fastened to the bin. 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the platform is detachably supported by supporting the outer longitudinal rim portions of the platform on the longitudinal members of the support frame. 
     
     
       19. A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the platform is detachably supported by supporting the outer longitudinal rim portions of the platform on the longitudinal members of the support frame. 
     
     
       20. A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the platform is formed by molding a polymeric body to have a plurality of the recesses delineated by a plurality of the transverse and longitudinal raised portions, and then separating the body along at least one of the transverse and longitudinal raised portions to form the platform and at least a second platform.